Draft season is upon us as free agency quiets down and prospect watch goes into overdrive. The reality is we’re not that involved in the College side of things, but that doesn’t mean we’re not fans of the draft.
For me that means reflecting back on drafts gone by to tell you which teams made the best picks and which ones the worst. So as I do every year I’m grading every draft pick from 2009 through to 2011 on the PFF rating scale (-2.0 to +2.0), factoring in where they were drafted, injuries and a host of other things.
Next in line, the New York Giants
+2.0: You’ve just found Tom Brady in the 6th round
Nope …
+1.5: Getting much more than you bargained for!
Nadda …
+1.0: The scouts nailed it!
Jason Pierre-Paul, DE (15th overall pick in 2010): A quiet rookie year made way to a huge sophomore season that helped the Giants win the big one. JPP might not be a premiere pass rusher, but it’s his ability on every down that has made him one of the best defensive ends in the league. Career PFF numbers read 3,101 snaps and a fantastic +59.6 grade.
+0.5: Never hurts to find a solid contributor
Hakeem Nicks, WR (29th overall pick in 2009): It’s a shame the last two years have been so pedestrian for Nicks because before that he was knocking at the door of much higher grades. As it is the Giants can likely live with what they got from him (career +49.3 grade), especially that fantastic 2011 postseason where he was instrumental in helping the team to the top.
William Beatty, OT (60th overall pick in 2009): So this second-round pick is coming off a disappointing year that coincided with getting a big contract. He did rebound somewhat as the year went on, and we really shouldn’t forget how he played prior to that. Sure it took him time to be trusted with a starting spot, but a +27.3 grade over 2011 and 2012 is nothing to turn your nose up at.
Linval Joseph, DT (46th overall pick in 2010): Developed into a good starter, particularly on early downs. Like a lot of the Giants' picks, he wasn’t rushed into action but would assume a starting role in 2011 and go onto pick up a +21.1 grade during his time with the G-Men. Become a better run defender the more he has played.
Jacquian Williams, LB (202nd overall pick in 2011): Good return on this late sixth-round pick, with Williams earning a situational role and already picking up 1,517 snaps in three years with the team while contributing on special teams. May never be a star, but good value.
0.0: It could have been worse
Andre Brown, RB (129th overall pick in 2009): Would finally start to contribute after injuries curtailed his early career. Still you’d like to see a few more plays made over the years, and certainly more than 594 snaps.
Stoney Woodson, CB (238th overall pick in 2009): An ankle injury meant the team would place him on injured reserve before releasing him.
Chad Jones, S (77th overall pick in 2010): I’ve given this a pass because of the unfortunate car crash that would end his NFL career.
Mitch Petrus, OG (148th overall pick in 2010): Looked over-matched in 296 offensive snaps, but did hang around on the roster into his sophmore season. Par for the course of a fifth-rounder.
Adrian Tracy, DE (185th overall pick in 2010): Made the switch to defensive end, but despite hanging onto the roster would only go onto play 70 snaps in two years with the team.
Prince Amukamara, CB (19th overall pick in 2011): May never develop into the kind of cornerback you’re comfortable leaving one on one with the top receivers, but if nothing else a solid sides guy who could track a number two if the situation called for. Really feisty against the run. Respectable if not mind blowing.
Greg Jones, LB (185th overall pick in 2011): Would start during his rookie year, but was found to be out of his depth relative to what was expected from a Giants middle linebacker. May have won a Super Bowl but would only last one year with the team.
Tyler Sash, S (198th overall pick in 2011): Featured as part of the teams sub package defense at times as a rookie and would go onto pick up 77 snaps. Unfortunately lost his chance to start with a 2012 drug related suspension and would struggle to make an impression following that.
Da’Rel Scott, RB (222nd overall pick in 2011): Injuries have meant that he’s played 167 snaps for the team, but he’s done nothing to distinguish himself as a long term contributor in that period.
-0.5: That pick was not put to good use
Ramses Barden, WR (85th overall pick in 2009): Will always have that one big game against Carolina. That’s pretty much it though, with his return of 421 snaps the remainder of his Giants career unsatisfactory for a third-round pick.
Travis Beckum, TE (100th overall pick in 2009): The move tight end who just didn’t move enough. Beckum was expected to be a prominent part of two receiver sets but didn’t earn the trust of the coaches and would manage just 587 largely uneventful snaps.
Rhett Bomar, QB (151st overall pick in 2009): A fifth round developmental quarterback who would spend his rookie year on the practice squad before being cut before the start of his second season.
DeAndre Wright, CB (200th overall pick in 2009): I’m not a fan of sixth-round picks who don’t make it onto the roster or practice squad as a rookie.
Phillip Dillard, LB (116th overall pick in 2010): Just three snaps from a player more was expected out of. If the Giants had better linebacker depth this might be understandable. But they didn’t and it’s not.
Matt Dodge, P (222nd overall pick in 2010): You draft a punter they better be a good one. Most Giants fans won’t forget Dodge in a hurry because he was about as erratic as a punter can be.
Jerrel Jernigan, WR (83rd overall pick in 2011): Next year? Well next this guy could actually switch to a positive. He’s clearly talented and flashed his skill in year three. But right now his 265 career snaps are not good enough for a wide receiver taken in the first 100 of a draft.
James Brewer, OT (117th overall pick in 2011): There’s time to turn this around, but presented with his first starting action in 2013 it didn’t exactly go well.
-1.0: What a waste!
Nope but …
-1.5: The scouts/ coaches failed, big time!
Clint Sintim, LB (45th overall pick in 2009): Even before the injuries it didn’t look like Sintim was ever going to be the player he was drafted to be. A negative grade on just 182 leaves a front office with egg on its face.
Marvin Austin, DT (52nd overall pick in 2011): Arguably the worst pick the Giants have made in the last 10 years. Austin had a path to playing time but was so clearly unimpressive that the team had seen enough in training camp and 103 defensive snaps that they cut him. To no surprise has failed to succeed elsewhere.
-2.0: You just drafted the love child of JaMarcus Russell and Ryan Leaf!
Phew …
Here are links to the teams that have been through the Draft Grader to date:
ARZ | ATL | BAL | BUF | CAR | CHI | CIN | CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GB
HOU | IND | JAX | KC | MIA | MIN | NE | NO | NYG | NYJ | OAK | PHI
PIT | SL | SD | SF | SEA | TB | TEN | WAS
Follow Khaled on Twitter: @PFF_Khaled
© 2024 PFF - all rights reserved.